I’ve been receiving threats for saying … — Alake

Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, says he has been receiving theats since he disclosed that powerful Nigerians behind illegal mining are those sponsoring banditry and kidnappings in the country.

Speaking in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday, January 22, the minister said: “I said it during my Ministry’s budget defence at the National Assembly that powerful Nigerians are behind the banditry associated with illegal minings in the country.

I said it openly. However, since I made the disclosure, I have been receiving threats but we are undaunted because it has to be said.

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In any case, I was not saying anything new. Most people knew it. Most people have been saying it. I only gave it an official stamp based on the intelligence report.

There is a lot of connivance among the strata of the society, both the high, medium and low. It is not an exclusive preserve of just the high up.“